Faculty
Vineeta Ahooja, MD, FACC FASE
Ajax, ON
Dyslipidemia
Dr. Ahooja is a Cardiologist in the greater Toronto area with board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Echocardiography, Nuclear cardiology and Cardiac CT. She completed her cardiovascular fellowship as chief fellow at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan and subsequently practiced Invasive Cardiology at Troy Beaumont, Mclaren, Genesys and Lapeer hospitals in northern Michigan where acted as an Associate Professor for the University of Michigan at Mclaren Hospital, and as director of the Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiography labs at Genesys Hospital. She was awarded Certificates of Merit and Excellence in Clinical Practice during her time there.
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She has co-authored a chapter in the Textbook of Comprehensive Hypertension and has published in prestigious journals.
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She was the 2021 and 2022 Co-Chair for the Year in Review Programme, assisting in the development of the scientific program for the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group and on the membership committee of the American Society of Echocardiography.
Dr. Ahooja is actively involved in large multicenter cardiovascular research trials and is a key opinion leader in cardiovascular medicine.
Renée Beach, MD, FRCPC
Toronto, ON
Acne
Dr. Renée A. Beach is a dermatologist practicing medical and cosmetic dermatology in Toronto for the last 10 years. She earned her medical doctor (MD) degree from McMaster University, followed by Dermatology residency at the University of Ottawa (FRCPC).
As an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Toronto, she teaches trainees in the Undergraduate MD program as well as postgraduate dermatology residents.
Her mantra of “Beauty for All” has made her a trusted, regularly sought-after authority across media outlets.
She sees adult patients at her private office, DermAtelier on Avenue and aims to provide dermatologic expertise and excellence to patients of all skin tones and types.
Vivien Brown, MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP
Toronto, ON
Respiratory Vaccines
Dr. Vivien Brown is a family physician and author in Toronto. Educated at McGill University, she currently is appointed to the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, holding the rank of Assistant Professor. An award winner for teaching on many levels, her major interests are in the area of health promotion and prevention for women, and continuing medical education, Adult Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Illness. The College of Family Physicians of Ontario named Dr Brown “Physician of the Year for the Region of Toronto”, awarded November 2012. Canada. She is the Past President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada and is immediate past Vice President for North America for the Medical Women’s International Association. Recently she was named one of Canada’s most influential women by the organization Women of Influence, for her work on advocacy on HPV vaccine for Canadians.
In March 2017, she was honored to present HPV initiatives in Canada at the UN meetings for the Commission on the Status of Women. In 2018 she was honored with the Media Award from the North American Menopause Society for her work in Women’s Health. She also received the May Cohen Award from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada for her work in Women’s Health.
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Her most recent book, “The New Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging” was recently published to rave reviews.
Mike Boivin, Bsc. Phm, RPH, CDE, CTH
Barrie. Ontario
Travel Health
Michael Boivin is a clinical pharmacist consultant, continuing education developer and president of CommPharm Consulting Inc. In 2009, he left full-time pharmacy practice to pursue a career in continuing education and consulting. He has developed in excess of 500 accredited continuing education activities for pharmacists, family physicians, specialists and allied healthcare professionals.
Marlon Danilewitz, MD, FRCPC, CISAM
Toronto, ON
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Dr. Marlon Danilewitz is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto and a staff psychiatrist and the associate medical director of general psychiatry at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. He is the associate conference chair for the Canadian Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting. Dr. Danilewitz completed his psychiatry residency and addiction medicine fellowship at the University of British Columbia. He is an assistant editor on the Canadian Journal of Addiction and a clinical researcher with a focus on concurrent disorders, and treatment resistant schizophrenia. He is the recipient of multiple local, and national awards for his research, leadership and teaching.
Jeffrey Habert, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Toronto, ON
Insomnia
Dr. Jeffrey Habert is a Family Physician in Thornhill for the last 34 years. He is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also an Investigating Coroner for the City of Toronto. He is Co-Editor of Canadian Primary Care Today (launched Q1 2023). Dr. Habert is a former Peer Assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (19 years).
He has an interest in the use of clinical practice guidelines and has participated on committees to establish guidelines in the areas of Depression, Stroke, ASA in Primary Care and Thrombosis. He is the Previous co-chair of Thrombosis Canada Clinical Guides. He is currently serving as a reviewer for the 2023 CANMAT MDD Guidelines and has recently been invited to join the Dissemination and Implementation Committee of Diabetes Canada
His clinical interests are varied, and include Diabetes, Obesity, Respiratory Disease, Depression, ADHD, Insomnia, Thrombosis/Stroke and Osteoporosis. He is also published in many of the previously mentioned areas in addition to others. He is a national speaker in the multiple areas and actively participates on Scientific Committees involved in the creation of educational programs.
Alan Kaplan, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP
Stouffville, ON
Asthma
Dr. Alan Kaplan is a family physician practicing in York Region, Ontario, Canada.
He is a chronic pain community consultant, the Regional Primary Care Lead at the Central Regional Cancer Program, and the Chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada (www.fpagc.com).
Dr. Kaplan is an Honorary Professor of Primary Care Respiratory Medicine of the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute in Singapore.
Dr. Kaplan is an international editor for Nature’s Primary Care Respiratory Journal and Journal of Pulmonary Therapy. He has authored 219 newsletter articles, 164 peer reviewed articles, and 129 conference abstracts.
Dr. Kaplan is married with four children and four dogs.
Alnoor Ramji, MD FRCP(C)
Vancouver, BC
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Dr. Ramji completed his internal medicine and gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of British Columbia, and thereafter undertook a hepatology fellowship at the University of Toronto.
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Dr. Ramji's area of clinical and research interest includes viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). His center is involved in investigator-initiated studies, and clinical studies in phase IIa to phase IV in hepatitis B, C and NASH. Other research interests include identification and linkage to care of persons with liver disease, and implementation science of models of care to assist with this process.
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Dr. Ramji also coordinates multiple provincial education programs including the Liver Forum and GP Liver Forum. He is on the steering committee for the national CanHepC clinical group, Canadian HBV network and a co-founder of the Canadian NASH Network (CanNASH). He is a co-author for the Canadian Guidelines in HCV and HBV and is a reviewer for multiple scientific journals.
Kevin Saunders, MD, CCFP
Winnipeg, MB
Chronic Kidney Disease
Dr Kevin Saunders is a family physician in Winnipeg. He completed his medical training at the University of Manitoba in 1985 and has practiced in Winnipeg since then. In addition to his family medicine practice, he is also the medical director of The Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital and an attending physician at Middlechurch and River East Nursing Homes. Dr Saunders has participated in extensive phase III clinical trial research with new pharmaceutical agents over the past thirty years. His special interest areas include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and vascular diseases (both primary and secondary prevention). At the Wellness Institute he was involved in developing the cardiac rehab program and the diabetes education programs. Dr Saunders has a special interest in family physician CME and has been extensively involved in CME development and facilitation over many years. Dr Saunders is a past president of the medical staff at Seven Oaks General Hospital, a past chair of the Section of Family Practice of Doctors Manitoba, and a past president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
Meet our Scientific Planning Committee
Our scientific planning committee consists of four renowned primary care physicians and one pharmacist that are committed to bringing the best educational content for Canadian primary care professionals to life.
Jeffrey Habert
MD, CCFP, FCFP
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Jeffrey Habert is a Family Physician in Thornhill for the last 34 years. He is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also an Investigating Coroner for the City of Toronto. He is Co-Editor of Canadian Primary Care Today (launched Q1 2023). Dr. Habert is a former Peer Assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (19 years).
He has an interest in the use of clinical practice guidelines and has participated on committees to establish guidelines in the areas of Depression, Stroke, ASA in Primary Care and Thrombosis. He is the Previous co-chair of Thrombosis Canada Clinical Guides. He is currently serving as a reviewer for the 2023 CANMAT MDD Guidelines and has recently been invited to join the Dissemination and Implementation Committee of Diabetes Canada
His clinical interests are varied, and include Diabetes, Obesity, Respiratory Disease, Depression, ADHD, Insomnia, Thrombosis/Stroke and Osteoporosis. He is also published in many of the previously mentioned areas in addition to others. He is a national speaker in the multiple areas and actively participates on Scientific Committees involved in the creation of educational programs.
Christine Palmay
MD, CCFP
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Christine Palmay graduated from the Western University Schulich School of Medicine in 2006 and completed her residency at the University of Toronto in 2008. She currently manages a busy family medical practice in midtown Toronto. She has been listed in NOW magzine's Best of List and was honoured by the Federation Medical Women of Canada with their 2016 National Reproductive Health Award.. She speaks and writes regularly on topics such as immunization and contraception and has a passion for public education.
Daniel Ngui
PT, MD, CFPC, FCFP
Vancouver, British Columbia
Daniel Ngui is a family physician and Medical Director at Fraser Street Medical in South Vancouver. He is a clinical professor with the University of British Columbia’sDepartment of Family Medicine involved in teaching medical trainees and family practice residents and is also the co-chair for the St. Paul’s CME program. He is involved with national physician organizations focused on physician education on the knowledge translation of guidelines and develops CME programs and speaks at the local, regional and national level, including the British Columbia, Diabetes Canada, and Canadian Cardiovascular Society Lipid clinical practice guidelines.
Dr Ngui has a special interest in population health management and optimising chronic disease care utilizing electronic medical record queries and dashboards via multidisciplinary team-based care. He is a co-editor for Primary Care Today, which provides primary care and family physicians with practical tips and the most up-to-date evidence-based management information.
Elissa Weinberg
MD, CCFP, FCFP
Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Elissa Weinberg received her Medical Degree at the University of Ottawa in 1998. She has been a Family Physician in Thornhill, since 2000. Dr. Weinberg is an active member and fellow with the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She is a Peer Assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario providing quality assurance. Continued Professional Medical Education is a significant interest of hers, and she has been a member and current PBSG Facilitator of a McMaster FMPE’s Practice Based Small Group Learning Program for the last 20 years. She has also participated on Scientific Committees for the creation of high-quality accredited programs in multiple therapeutic areas. She teaches medical students, family medicine residents and nurse practitioners at her family practice. She is currently on staff at North York General Hospital and a Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Michael Boivin
RPH, CDE
Barrie. Ontario
Michael Boivin is a clinical pharmacist consultant, continuing education developer and president of CommPharm Consulting Inc. In 2009, he left full-time pharmacy practice to pursue a career in continuing education and consulting. He has developed in excess of 500 accredited continuing education activities for pharmacists, family physicians, specialists and allied healthcare professionals.